How "Same old, same old" can save your skin

In the last week or so, I have decided that I need to muster up some discipline and establish a routine. As a single mother, my mom would constantly tell me about the importance of routine throughout my childhood to more efficiently get ready in the morning....I was a bit of a dawdler.

But, like the theme of our modern-day sentiments, my motto has always been: if the results are good, who cares about the method? If I'm at my commitments on time, get my work done and keep myself fed, what's the problem, right? Well, the problem is that our bodies need regularity.

Waking, eating and sleeping at consistent times helps us establish habits - and like little planners, our bodies can expect when to be stimulated, nourished and rested. This helps our digestion immensely, helping our skin and bodies immensely as well. Poor digestion has been tied to rosacea, eczema and cellulite. I, myself, have had my share of digestive issues and its no coincidence that I eat on the run wherever and whenever it has fit into my inconsistent schedule. This is why Vatas (those with an abundance of air in their constitution) tend to have poor digestion and bloating. Vata governs inconsistency - whether it is in the mind or body - and when this happens, our systems do not know when digestive fire should be enkindled, and this also creates erratic hunger patterns.

But routine does not only help with digestion, but also with our metabolism. If we do not eat regularly, our bodies do not know when they will be fed again, and often enter "starvation mode" in which they hang onto nutrients in fear of not receiving more. It is proven fact that those of us who eat consistently, avoiding swings of being too ravenous and overly stuffed, also regulate our blood sugar and metabolic function. Many clients who seem like they cannot lose weight despite reasonable portion sizes and reasonable food choices find that their lack of eating at the same times each day is a major factor. Excess Kapha (the earth element in our constitution) is related to this, and Kaphas who have a habit of over-indulging themselves also lack discipline and structure. Establishing a strict regimen of waking, eating and sleeping is one of the best ways to reduce excess Kapha.

And our waking/ sleeping patterns are of the utmost importance. Waking early each day clears out Kapha lethargy. According to Ayurveda, we should be using the sunrise to help wake and stimulate us - and we should not be eating after sun-down (as our bodies naturally slow down). I have blogged about circadian rhythm before, and this coincides with this concept.

Sleeping at the same time each day also helps us become better rested. Fluctuating sleep patterns confuse our bodies and often cause insomnia (another sign of excess Vata). And we all know that a good night's sleep not only prevents the feeling of fatigue, but also under eye circles, skin dehydration (lack of sleep taxes our kidneys which regulate water) and water-retention (due to dehydration).

So, while it isn't as glamorous as a luxurious skin renewing facial or provides the instant gratification of a nourishing body massage, establishing a strict lifestyle routine may provide the most powerful total health and beauty make-over.

Stress Series Part 2: Getting Our Beauty Sleep

Lately it seems to me that sleep is such a valuable commodity, I wish I could bottle and sell it. So many of my clients are having problems with sleeping properly during this season of so much change. This Vata weather must have induced a restlessness in us not only conjuring up sleeplessness but also some anxious, Vata thoughts.

"I just lay awake at night thinking about all the things I have to do. I get really stressed out them- then I start thinking about how my lack of sleep is making me break out, and I get really stressed out about that!" one of my clients told me on the massage table.

"I work until 2am at night sometimes - you'd think I'm exhausted, but I actually am wired just thinking: What am I doing with my life?" another said to me.

And this lack of sleep doesn't only make us feel less energetic, less healthy and less focused - but it also makes us break out, our skin dehydrated and signs of aging accelerate.

This was a topic which came up during a seminar on Anti-aging I attended while in New York last week attending the annual HBA trade show. (The actual talk was about Sirtuins and Stem Cells in skincare led by a panel of cosmetic research scientists representing Estee Lauder and a handful of stand alone research companies).

I found this very interesting because one researcher discussed the concept of Circadian Rhythm on our skin which is a known factor in Ayurveda and other alternative schools of thought, but now was being explained in scientific terms (Did I mention this was from people who were talking about stem cells in skincare?). He and his team had been particularly interested in their study of "clock genes" which are found within our cells and allow synchronization of cellular activity with the Circadian Cycle. (For those of you who are not familiar with Circadian Rhythm, it is the 24 hour cycle which outlines how our bodies behave through the day and their physiological changes.) In relation to the skin, they observed how we repaired at night as these clock genes induce protective antioxidants.

Each cell has its own clock which was governed by a part of the brain called the Suprachiasmatic Nucleus, which understands "night" in relation to light, food and activity in our bodies, and is found in the Hypothalamus ("The Master Clock"). Also note that the Hypothalamus is a communicator between the Nervous System and the Hormonal system.

They observed that when clock genes were synchronized with the Circadian Clock, it enhanced the skin's resistance to UV damage and enabled our cells to restore themselves. But that clock genes could not synchronize after Sun burn as UV damage caused DNA damage (!). So, there goes the hopes for sunbathing sans sunscreen after a good night's rest.

To me this was all so interesting - firstly because I'm as a Vainitista, it really reinforced the necessity of getting to bed instead of watching old episodes of Mad Men on the Internet - but Secondly, because science proved Ayurvedic dictations again - as the effect of Time of Day has been known for thousands of years and the importance of sleep for repair a given. Ayurveda's ideology coincides with the idea of Circadian Rhythm as each Dosha expresses itself at different times of the day and this influences our bodies greatly.

Kapha is strongest at 6am-10am and 6pm-10pm
Pitta is strongest at 10am-2pm and 10pm-2am
Vata is strongest at 2am- 6am and 2pm-6pm

This is the basis Ayurvedic recommendations on lifestyle. For example:

- Waking up during Kapha time in the morning flushes out our lethargy in the morning (accounts for why we feel like tired, heavy Kaphas when we over-sleep).
- Eating our biggest meal during Pitta time in the afternoon (lunch) will help us digest our food as our digestive fire is at its height with Pitta energy. We should also not eat heavily after sun down (approx. 6pm) as Kapha again is at its peak and will not move food through our systems well.
- Sleeping before early during Kapha evening time (before 10pm) helps us sleep well and avoids being awake and active during Vata time (2am) in which our Vata energy will not allow our minds to be at peace.

Ayurveda also states that this clock can expose our imbalances. If you have troubles falling asleep - you have excess Vata in your body, but if you fall asleep and wake up, it is an excess Pitta (heat) issue.

So while we may think staying up can help us get ahead giving us more time to work, to plan and to troubleshoot, a lack of sleep damages our energetic balance and depletes our tissues. And while its easier said than done, disciplining ourselves to turn off our mental activity will help us preserve our health. So put on your PJs a little earlier tonight, if not for proper Doshic behaviour, for more beautiful skin.